Heat exchanger mount with internal flow passage

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a first header including a fluid inlet and a second header positioned downstream of the first header with respect to a first flow path of a first fluid and including a fluid outlet. The heat exchanger further includes a core extending from the first header to the second header and a mount structure extending between the first header and the second header. The core includes a plurality of core tubes. The mount structure is integrally formed with a subset group of diverted tubes of the plurality of core tubes and includes one or more internal flow passages that are connected to the subset group of diverted tubes such that the one or more internal flow passages are in flow communication with the first header and the second header in parallel to a non-diverted portion of the core.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first header including a fluid inlet; 
 a second header positioned downstream of the first header with respect to a first flow path of a first fluid and including a fluid outlet; 
 a core extending from the first header to the second header, the core comprising a plurality of core tubes; and 
 a mount structure extending between the first header and the second header, the mount structure being integrally formed with a subset group of diverted tubes of the plurality of core tubes and including one or more internal flow passages that are connected to the subset group of diverted tubes such that the one or more internal flow passages are in flow communication with the first header and the second header in parallel to a non-diverted portion of the core. 
 
     
     
       2. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal flow passages include a common plenum within the mount structure that is connected to each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes such that portions of the first fluid flowing through the subset group of diverted tubes are merged in the common plenum. 
     
     
       3. The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes converges into a first end of the common plenum and reemerges from a second end of the common plenum such that each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes includes:
 a first portion upstream of the mount structure; and 
 a second portion downstream of the mount structure. 
 
     
     
       4. The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes is separated from adjacent tubes of the subset group of diverted tubes at a respective first portion and a respective second portion. 
     
     
       5. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal flow passages include individual tubular passages that are each connected to a corresponding tube of the subset group of diverted tubes such that each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes includes:
 a first portion upstream of the mount structure; 
 a second portion downstream of the mount structure; and 
 a third portion that extends through the mount structure as a corresponding individual tubular passage of the one or more internal flow passages. 
 
     
     
       6. The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes is separated from adjacent tubes of the subset group of diverted tubes at a respective first portion and a respective second portion; and wherein each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes is connected to the adjacent tubes of the subset group of diverted tubes by free mount surface extending between respective third portions of each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes. 
     
     
       7. The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the free mount surface has a width that is less than a diameter of the third portion of each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes. 
     
     
       8. The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes is longer than remaining tubes of the plurality of core tubes. 
     
     
       9. The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein each of the individual tubular passages of the mount structure is routed around an opening through the mount structure. 
     
     
       10. The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the first or second portion of each tube of the subset group of diverted tubes is contoured. 
     
     
       11. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the subset group of diverted tubes includes individual core tubes from a same layer in the core. 
     
     
       12. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the subset group of diverted tubes includes individual core tubes from multiple layers in the core. 
     
     
       13. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the subset group of diverted tubes includes individual core tubes that are configured to be positioned proximate to an external mount when the heat exchanger is installed in a heat exchange system. 
     
     
       14. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger including the mount structure is configured to be additively manufactured as a single, monolithic unit. 
     
     
       15. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first header and the second header is a fractal header. 
     
     
       16. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first header and the second header includes a consecutively branching tubular structure terminating in individual tubes that are continuous with corresponding ones of the plurality of core tubes. 
     
     
       17. The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first header is configured to receive the first fluid via the fluid inlet and the second header is configured to discharge the first fluid via the fluid outlet; and wherein an exterior surface of the heat exchanger is exposed to a second fluid in a crossflow arrangement. 
     
     
       18. The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the first fluid and the second fluid have different temperatures. 
     
     
       19. A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first header including a fluid inlet; 
 a second header positioned downstream of the first header with respect to a first flow path of a first fluid and including a fluid outlet; 
 a core extending from the first header to the second header, the core comprising a plurality of core tubes; and 
 a mount structure positioned adjacent to the core, the mount structure being integrally formed with a subset group of diverted tubes of the plurality of core tubes and including one or more internal flow passages that are connected to the subset group of diverted tubes such that the first flow path is diverted through the one or more internal flow passages of the mount structure. 
 
     
     
       20. A heat exchange system comprising:
 a heat exchanger comprising:
 a first header including a fluid inlet; 
 a second header positioned downstream of the first header with respect to a first flow path of a first fluid and including a fluid outlet; 
 a core extending between the first header and the second header, the core comprising a plurality of core tubes; and 
 a mount structure that is integrally formed with a subset group of diverted tubes of the plurality of core tubes and that includes one or more internal flow passages connected to the subset group of diverted tubes such that the one or more internal flow passages are in flow communication with the first header and the second header in parallel to a non-diverted portion of the core; and 
 
 an external mount positioned along a second flow path of a second fluid and attached to the mount structure of the heat exchanger such that that heat exchanger is mounted in a crossflow arrangement with respect to the second flow path.